Babcock Ranch

It's not often one can say "come visit our new city," and mean it in the literal sense. Babcock Ranch is a completely new city being built in south Charlotte County, and to say we're excited is an understatement. A "first of its kind" in so many ways, Babcock Ranch truly exemplifies the ecological mindset of the area. In their own words, "Babcock Ranch is an eco-centric new town embedded in nature and powered by the sun, by innovation and by the great outdoors." A strict solar/natural gas powered town, it will feature the largest solar farm that FPL (Florida Power and Light) has ever constructed. According to Babcock, if you stretched out all of their solar panels end to end, they would reach from Babcock Ranch to Chicago.

Sustainable, highly efficient building practices at the core, and a gigabit fiber connectivity are just a couple of the bullets in a list of noteworthy items. The city will be a fine addition to places to explore on any visitor's list, with restaurants and retail coming online in phase I. And don't mind those cars silently gliding by without drivers, the community is one of the first in the state to be approved for fully autonomous vehicle operation.

A town center, connecting multiple hamlets, villages and neighborhoods with bicycle/pedestrian pathways, will be the center of activity. Yes, but how soon? Well under construction, the city is starting to take shape and buildings have started to come up in the downtown area. Take a look at the video below introducing the community, and be sure to visit the city's Facebook page here for up to the minute progress updates.

About the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast

Florida's premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, The Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, is known for its pristine, unspoiled beauty. The area has hosted seven major feature films, been featured on SAIL magazine's list of the "10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States," ranked by Golf Digest as the "Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America," and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live in the South." For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau, 1700 Tamiami Trail, Suite G-2, Port Charlotte, FL; call 941-743-1900 for a free Visitor's Guide; or visit the Web site at PureFlorida.com.